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Gore Range DUI Task Force campaign nets 23 DUI arrests

As most of us were opening gifts, spending time with family and friends and enjoying the holidays, Eagle County law enforcement officers were on the streets cracking down on impaired drivers to make our roadways safer.

The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign in Eagle County resulted in more than 23 impaired-driving arrests, eight other significant arrests and 38 citations during the special enforcement period, which was held Dec. 12 through Jan. 1.

The enforcement blitz was designed to decrease impaired driving fatalities here and nationwide. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 32,885 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes during 2010. Thirty-one percent (10,228) of those fatalities occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.

The Gore Range DUI Task Force is very proud to report zero alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in Eagle County for the entire year of 2012. "We met our number one goal," said Deputy Jake Best, the Director of the Gore Range DUI Task Force. Over the past couple of years, Eagle County has at least five alcohol related fatalities, and a spike of 13 fatalities in 2007.

No DL

A deputy stopped a car for speeding in Gypsum Dec. 27.

The 21-year-old driver didn't have a license. He said he was on probation for an alcohol offense and wasn't supposed to drive.

The deputy arrested the man for driving without a license and speeding.

Ran but couldn't hide

A deputy made three attempts to contact a 25-year-old Edwards resident for two active warrants before he was successful.

On Dec. 14, the officer went to the man's house and knocked on the door. The porch light turned on and the man saw the deputy through the window. He ran away from the door and all the lights switched off.

On Dec. 19, the deputy saw the man park his car in the driveway and run inside the house, leaving the parking lights of his car on. Knocks at the door weren't answered.

On Dec. 28, the deputy saw the suspect's car parked at a store. He had two other deputies assist him this time.

An officer saw the suspect inside the store and knocked on the window. He showed his badge and motioned for the man to join him outside. Instead the man ran to the back of the store and an employee motioned to the officer that he couldn't let him in that door. The other two officers covered the exits.

The man ran around the store in a frantic, back-and-forth chase before he was caught. He was arrested for obstructing a peace officer and for the warrants of assault and failing to appear in court.

The man said he knew about the warrants and ran because his family needed him. He said he missed his court date because his baby was born that day.

No DL, part II

A deputy saw a car weaving on Interstate 70 near Minturn Dec. 29. He stopped the driver and discovered the 22-year-old's license was revoked for an alcohol/drug offense. She was arrested for driving without a license and weaving.

Stolen gun

On Dec. 30, a second-homeowner told deputies that a pistol was stolen from a bedroom drawer in his Beaver Creek condo between August and December.

He said several cleaning and construction crews had been in his home during that time. He bought the Sig Sauer P226 .40-caliber handgun about 20 years ago for $500 and didn't have the serial number.

A full evening

at fine dining establishments

Deputies responded to a disturbance at a Beaver Creek restaurant Dec. 30.

A 47-year-old man in a Minnesota Vikings jersey was extremely intoxicated and was reportedly throwing chairs at the restaurant.

Security guards told the officers that the incident started after the man sat down at a booth with three strangers and started eating their food without permission. The patrons confirmed the story but didn't want to press charges. Deputies noted the food on the floor was consistent with their story.

It came to light that the suspect caused problems at another restaurant before then. He allegedly threw an orange at a woman, yelled obscenities, made lewd comments to a woman with a child as he was escorted outside and then tried to fight with restaurant employees. The employees called security but the man walked off before officers arrived.

The man denied any wrongdoing. He said he went into the first restaurant because two employees there were former tenants of his and they owed him money.

He was cited for disorderly conduct and escorted off Beaver Creek property.

Wrecked his holiday

A deputy saw a pickup truck that slid off eastbound Interstate 70 near Wolcott at 3 a.m. Jan. 1.

As the officer approached, he saw the truck was moving, trying to get back on the highway. The car had apparently gone through a wildlife fence. It had front-end damage and a rear tire had come off the wheel.

The driver saw the deputy coming and ran across the interstate to get away. Other deputies chased the suspect while the first officer investigated the wreck.

The cab smelled of alcohol and marijuana. An intoxicated woman was in the passenger seat, confused about where she was. The deputy asked her if there was marijuana in the car. The woman said there was an ounce in the man's jacket and handed him the coat. She was looking for her cell phone but couldn't find it. The deputy helped her out of the truck and put her in a patrol car to stay warm.

The woman said she and the man partied in Beaver Creek and were staying at a hotel in Eagle. They got into a fight and decided to go home to Broomfield. The deputy asked if there had been any domestic violence. The woman said she didn't want to get the man in trouble. The officer arranged for the woman to go back to the hotel for the night.

The 36-year-old man was arrested and taken to the hospital before going to jail. He threatened officers and tried to bribe them. He offered one $200 and another $1,000 to let him go. He also broke hospital equipment and refused a chemical test. At the jail, deputies found two cell phones in his possession.

He was booked for driving under the influence of alcohol, walking on the highway while intoxicated, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and attempting to influence a public servant.

Miscellaneous mischief

• A resident of Rawhide Road in Edwards told deputies Dec. 27 that someone might have tried to break into his house. An unknown set of footprints led around the side of the house and the back door handle was broken. Unknown tire tracks were also in the driveway. Deputies said they would increase patrols in the area.

• On Dec. 30, a Gypsum resident discovered that both driver's side tires on his car were slashed. There was a 1-inch slice in both tires, which were worth $400 each.

• A 27-year-old man was cited for theft in Beaver Creek on Dec. 30 for using a ski pass tha